Just in case this hasn’t been mentioned to you in the news, the reason the games are on this date is because ‘8’s’ are lucky numbers in China, so 8/8/08 is an auspicious and lucky date to start such a huge endeavour as the Olympic games.

Today, the news really hit when a letter signed by 40 Olympic athletes to President Hu Jintau was released to the press. This letter is indicative of the kind of discourse I think is healthy and productive. Elite athletes at the top of their game using their voices to share a message of equality, progress and hope. The letter was written as part of an initiative by “Sports for Peace.”

It certainly hit home, on the BBC worldwide network at least it was their top story this morning in Beijing. I want to take a moment to congratulate these athletes for being the inspirational role models we need - even if many other athletes and most politicians have decided that temporary impotence is the prudent path with regards to progressing human rights during the Olympics.

I also did an interview yesterday, where I spoke with BBC Radio 5 Live. I was briefed that the interview would be regarding the upcoming USA v.’s China games for both the men and women that kick off the basketball contest. Instead, and just as appropriately, it focussed on the human rights situation in China, the “politicisation of sports” and the role of athletes in inspiring change or remaining silent accomplices to the status quo.

You can read the BBC article on the 40 athletes who signed the letter to Hu Jintau and my own comments here.

You can also listen to the broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Live web page, it should be available by the end of the day on Thursday, here.

I won’t write much more on this today, the opening ceremonies are tonight and I want to see what direction your comments take.

There is also an interesting commentary from the Guardian newspaper you can listen to it below: